50 Ear Training – More Complicated Melodies

Building Fluency

Fluency in C Clefs

We can all use extra practice in C clefs, whether in sight singing or in ear training. Having trouble? Use middle C for orientation, i.e. the middle line of the staff in alto clef and the second-to-top line of the staff in tenor clef.

Fluency in Compound Time

Compound meters are no more difficult than simple meters, but we sometimes have the perception that they are more difficult. To improve fluency, write out some well-known melodies in compound meter (see the list below). Don’t just practice time signatures with 8 in the denominator – practice the ones with 16 or 4 too, since they may be less familiar.

Practice Examples

Choose one familiar folk song in compound time from the list below, and write it out in a C clef in compound time.

Songs in Compound Time:

• The Ants Go Marching (duple or quadruple)
• The Bear Went Over the Mountain (duple or quadruple)
• Beautiful Dreamer (triple)
• For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow (duple or quadruple)
• Greensleeves (quadruple)
• Hickory Dickory Dock (duple or quadruple)
• I’m a Little Teapot (quadruple)
• Itsy Bitsy Spider (duple or quadruple)
• Bach, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (triple)
• Morning Has Broken (triple)
• Oh, Dear, What Can the Matter Be (quadruple)
• Pop Goes the Weasel (duple or quadruple)
• Ride of the Valkyries (triple)
• Row Row Row Your Boat (quadruple)